Secondly, the term “wetback” is no different than the term “Jap”. Yes, as a society we’ve grown out of using those terms. We now mask then in more polite vocabulary. But, trying to make political hay out of someone from an older generation using a term that the younger generation no longer uses is cheap politics.

I was wondering if anyone was going to jump on this and help the left push their agenda of tarring the right with anything they can make stick.

Update: I know the Begiches are Democrats, but was trying to emphasize the clannish hold on power up in Alaska. Consider it prosaic license.

All heads of the same Hydra. They had no problems coordinating their war with Sarah Palin, whose uncompromising attitude about official corruption was a threat to them all.

]]>By: unclesmrgolhttp://hotair.com/archives/2013/03/29/rep-young-hey-no-disrespect-intended-by-that-ethnic-slur-i-used/comment-page-2/#comment-6839597
Fri, 29 Mar 2013 20:18:25 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=252155#comment-6839597His other point is that low technology jobs are being sidelined by high technology equipment.

I agree with that assessment too.

]]>By: unclesmrgolhttp://hotair.com/archives/2013/03/29/rep-young-hey-no-disrespect-intended-by-that-ethnic-slur-i-used/comment-page-2/#comment-6839592
Fri, 29 Mar 2013 20:16:55 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=252155#comment-6839592His language aside, the points he’s making are absolutely correct. We are exporting high technology jobs, and providing visas for foreigners to come here to do similar high technology jobs which remain in this country. Both of these acts hurt Americans, but the only way to reverse this trend is to either erect barriers (such as halting the visa program (good) or erecting tariffs (bad)), or to use the power of the marketplace to create and keep things in this country.

That latter point is hard to do — especially when most American companies of any size have already responded to the union headlock by transferring their operations overseas.

With respect to immigration reform, I agree with him also.

]]>By: Bulletchaserhttp://hotair.com/archives/2013/03/29/rep-young-hey-no-disrespect-intended-by-that-ethnic-slur-i-used/comment-page-2/#comment-6839551
Fri, 29 Mar 2013 19:40:51 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=252155#comment-6839551Frankly, I like “Fence-Jumpers” to “Wet-backs”.
]]>By: TeaPartyNationhttp://hotair.com/archives/2013/03/29/rep-young-hey-no-disrespect-intended-by-that-ethnic-slur-i-used/comment-page-2/#comment-6839493
Fri, 29 Mar 2013 19:07:08 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=252155#comment-6839493…and, amazingly, there are still some people who wonder why THE PARTY OF STUPID is losing to THE PARTY OF EVIL !
]]>By: GWBhttp://hotair.com/archives/2013/03/29/rep-young-hey-no-disrespect-intended-by-that-ethnic-slur-i-used/comment-page-2/#comment-6839478
Fri, 29 Mar 2013 18:58:58 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=252155#comment-6839478

Why are you working so hard to qualify obvious racial-prejudice.

Here’s a hint. Not all migrant workers are illegal immigrants. The term is factually inaccurate as well as prejudiced.

]]>By: glennbohttp://hotair.com/archives/2013/03/29/rep-young-hey-no-disrespect-intended-by-that-ethnic-slur-i-used/comment-page-2/#comment-6839395
Fri, 29 Mar 2013 18:01:08 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=252155#comment-6839395I saw this reported on the Today show this morning. At first I didn’t know if the guy was an R or a D. And, the initial reporting that actually included the context in which he made the comment seemed entirely reasonable, regardless of political affiliation. Then the report went on to point out that Young was a R and how much trouble the R’s have been having appealing to the hispanic voter. It was at that point that I changed the channel.

First of all, as I pointed out above, context is key and it makes all the difference in whether one should or should not be offended by the comment. I don’t find the word offensive and anyone that does is just fishing for grievance.

Secondly, the term “wetback” is no different than the term “Jap”. Yes, as a society we’ve grown out of using those terms. We now mask then in more polite vocabulary. But, trying to make political hay out of someone from an older generation using a term that the younger generation no longer uses is cheap politics.

I was wondering if anyone was going to jump on this and help the left push their agenda of tarring the right with anything they can make stick.

Nice job Hotair giving this one legs!

]]>By: nyclakerfanhttp://hotair.com/archives/2013/03/29/rep-young-hey-no-disrespect-intended-by-that-ethnic-slur-i-used/comment-page-2/#comment-6839380
Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:55:07 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=252155#comment-6839380But these people will keep defending him for being “old” or he is correct because Mexicans are job stealers. Even though I am of Mexican heritage (partially) was born in the US, educated until graduate scool and am employed. I have never received a handout and I have been called “wetback” or “beaner” by ignorant people. Wetback doesn’t mean to imply you stole a job, it is meant to be derogatory towards Mexicans. Why these people here defend that who knows?
]]>By: nyclakerfanhttp://hotair.com/archives/2013/03/29/rep-young-hey-no-disrespect-intended-by-that-ethnic-slur-i-used/comment-page-2/#comment-6839371
Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:52:23 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=252155#comment-6839371

Jaibones on March 29, 2013 at 1:46 PM

Thanks for at least being based in reality

]]>By: tom daschle concernedhttp://hotair.com/archives/2013/03/29/rep-young-hey-no-disrespect-intended-by-that-ethnic-slur-i-used/comment-page-2/#comment-6839368
Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:51:01 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=252155#comment-6839368Everybody have a good cry?
]]>By: nyclakerfanhttp://hotair.com/archives/2013/03/29/rep-young-hey-no-disrespect-intended-by-that-ethnic-slur-i-used/comment-page-2/#comment-6839366
Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:49:57 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=252155#comment-6839366I think it is funny that people claim to not be racist yet they have fallen over themselves to defend this man. Instead of saying, “Oh, he shouldn’t have said that” they come up with all these excuses: “He’s old,” “Democrats do it too!” and finally “He’s correct and the PC police are out to get him.” Wetback doesn’t mean = job stealer as some would believe here, quite selectively ignorant. It is EXCLUSIVELY meant to be derogatory to Latinos, Mexicans in particular. Whether or not some, most or all Mexicans steal jobs is not the point. That’s already a given. But not all Mexicans (like myself) steal jobs. I was born in the US, as was my mother. I have never been on handouts, working on my 3rd degree, have a full time job and yet I have been called “wetback,” “spic” and beaner as well. Even though I am a proud American with NO ties to Mexico

Instead of defending people like Young, Akin, O’Donnell and these other idiots, how about he actually say “It’s not okay to say these things.”

]]>By: Jaiboneshttp://hotair.com/archives/2013/03/29/rep-young-hey-no-disrespect-intended-by-that-ethnic-slur-i-used/comment-page-2/#comment-6839356
Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:46:50 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=252155#comment-6839356There was, some time ago, a thread on HotAir which debated the nature of this term as an ethnic slur. I cannot think of any rationale for denying that it is a slur. It is descriptive and reality-based, but applied to Mexicans generally, it is certainly a slur.
]]>By: Capitalist Hoghttp://hotair.com/archives/2013/03/29/rep-young-hey-no-disrespect-intended-by-that-ethnic-slur-i-used/comment-page-2/#comment-6839339
Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:37:33 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=252155#comment-6839339?
]]>By: Capitalist Hoghttp://hotair.com/archives/2013/03/29/rep-young-hey-no-disrespect-intended-by-that-ethnic-slur-i-used/comment-page-2/#comment-6839337
Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:36:56 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=252155#comment-6839337

No. You name them. Then we can inspect your potential libel.

GWB on March 29, 2013 at 10:46 AM

Why are you working so hard to qualify obvious racial-prejudice.

Here’s a hint. Not all migrant workers are illegal immigrants. The term is factually inaccurate as well as prejudiced.

]]>By: lowandslowhttp://hotair.com/archives/2013/03/29/rep-young-hey-no-disrespect-intended-by-that-ethnic-slur-i-used/comment-page-2/#comment-6839321
Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:30:22 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=252155#comment-6839321Odd thing about him, he was stripped of any seniority after his last ethics violations. He will never have any power in any committee, ever. Yet the Alaskan GOP can’t get anyone to challenge this putz.
]]>By: rogerbhttp://hotair.com/archives/2013/03/29/rep-young-hey-no-disrespect-intended-by-that-ethnic-slur-i-used/comment-page-1/#comment-6839306
Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:22:34 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=252155#comment-6839306

He was only using a term commonly used by most southern, Midwestern and some northeastern conservatives. Nothing new here.

HotAirLib on March 29, 2013 at 9:54 AM

.
Name five.

Mr. D on March 29, 2013 at 10:29 AM

.
Start with any five from this blog

HotAirLib on March 29, 2013 at 10:36 AM

.
No. You name them. Then we can inspect your potential libel.

GWB on March 29, 2013 at 10:46 AM

LOL. The term “WETBACKS” is still used interchangeably…

Pork-Chop on March 29, 2013 at 10:38 AM

.
You know, I have no problem with this term…

Bert Convy on March 29, 2013 at 11:12 AM

.
These racist teapots make it too easy.

HotAirLib on March 29, 2013 at 12:06 PM

Neither of which is an example of

“using a term commonly used by…”

You realize that, right?

You’re not doing that great of a job of dispelling the low-info Obama voter joke that has, for some unknown reason, gained traction. I’m sure it’s all coincidental, though.

If you were born before the 1980s there’s no doubt you probably heard lots of ethnic/racial slurs. This does not mean these terms are harmless, but at least Young is acknowledging this country’s history of racism and ethnocentrism.

libfreeordie on March 29, 2013 at 11:14 AM

When I was growing up in the 1960s in the state Dear Leader claims to have been born in, I was the target of racist slurs daily. And I’m white. Are you including that state in your history of racism in America?